Jun 21, 2016 - Sale 2420

Sale 2420 - Lot 32

Price Realized: $ 8,750
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 7,000 - $ 10,000
(AMERICAN REVOLUTION.) André, John; artist. A Representation of Major John André . . . going from the Vulture Sloop of War to the Shore of Haverstraw Bay. Aquatint, 8 1/4 x 11 1/2 inches; trimmed almost to image, somewhat wrinkled, moderate wear, laid down on later paper. [England?], circa 1790-94
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Additional Details

This engraving was done from a sketch drawn by the British spy Major André on the morning of his execution. It depicts him being rowed across the Hudson River to his fateful meeting with Benedict Arnold. The caption reads in part: "A representation of Major John André, Adjutant General to the Kings Forces in North America, going from the Vulture Sloop of War to the shore of Haverstraw Bay in Hudsons River the Night of the 23d. of September 1780, in a Boat which was sent for him . . . under the Sanction of a Flag of Truce, by Major General Arnold, who then commanded the Rebel Forces in that district. The above is an exact Copy of a Drawing sketch'd with a Pen by Major André himself, the Morning on which he was to have been executed . . . and found on his Table with other Papers the next day (being that of his Death) by his servant, and delivered by him on his arrival at New York to Lieut. Colonel [William] Crosbie of the 22d. Regiment, who has caused this Engraving to be taken from the Original in his Possession, as a small Mark of his Friendship for that very valuable and unfortunate officer." The Rosenbach copy was inscribed by "Col. Crosbie," a rank he held only from 1790 to 1794. It was likely printed during this period, although it may have been printed earlier.
Only one other known at auction since 1869, from a different consignor in Swann's 4 February 2016 sale, which helped unearth the present example.